Kingston mayoral candidates look into future

Kingston’s mayoral candidates stepped up their games on Wednesday night in front of about 200 people at the Artillery Park Recreation Centre.

They were asked, in their opening addresses, to build on the theme of what Kingston would look like in 50 years.

Rick Downes joked that in 2064 he would be in the middle of his 13th term as mayor.

He went on to describe a future in which neighbourhoods were thriving, polluted lands were cleaned up and developed, and the 1% infrastructure tax was still in place to fund improvements around the city.

Scott Foster chided Downes about his futuristic scenario, saying it was better than the writings of H.G. Wells that he read as a child.

Foster said he wanted to focus instead on the next four years, during which the third crossing over the Cataraqui River would be started and Kingston’s post-secondary schools would be thriving as “advanced technology institutions.”

Dorothy Hector continued her campaign theme of budgetary caution — about not taking Kingston’s future for granted, yet balancing the protection of heritage and culture with affordable tax levels.

She pledged to be a full-time mayor “fully engaged” in making next year’s Sir John A. Bicentennial celebrations a success.

Michael Owen offered an “off the cuff” vision of Kingston’s future, saying the city must deal with homelessness, keeping the downtown healthy and making businesses accessible for an aging population.

“I have two parents with serious mobility issues,” Owen said. “It’s gonna bite us in the ass.”

Bryan Paterson’s opening address was based on four pillars of sustainability: economic (building the third crossing to unlock development), cultural (developing Kingston Penitentiary and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour as tourism draws), environmental (revitalizing the inner harbour and making Kingston a leader in renewable energy technology) and social (taking care of “the less fortunate” and revitalizing the city’s north-end community).

Brenda Slomka championed her “climate adaptation centre” concept for the inner harbour, the need to promote active transportation and public transit, reducing urban sprawl and hiring an anti-poverty co-ordinator.

She received her biggest applause for saying no to bringing a casino to Kingston — “not maybe.”

The casino question would later be raised by an audience member and directed at Paterson, who said he has been confronted with the issue during his door-to-door campaigning.

“It’s probably the No. 1 issue next to the third crossing,” Paterson said. “I stand by my no vote. I know people say I’m in favour of development. But a casino development does bring (social issues) baggage with it.”

Hector recounted her changing position on the casino from supporter to opponent.

“I did vote yes, and I was representing my district (of Lakeside),” she said.

Hector said she would honour the will of Kingstonians on the casino referendum question.

But when it comes to marking her own ballot, “I’m going to vote no,” she said to applause from the crowd.

The King’s Town location for the all-candidates gathering resulted in several questions about the plan to build the controversial Wellington Street extension.

“I’m not in favour of a busy expressway,” said Paterson, adding that the roadway running from Ordnance Street to Montreal Street would help develop brownfield lands such as the Davis Tannery property.

“It’s clear the road access to get to those properties is not sufficient,” he said. “I’m thinking about the green space we would gain if we get those properties developed.”

Foster said he is opposed to building more expensive infrastructure for cars.

Downes said he wanted to reiterate that he is opposed to the Wellington Street extension, comparing it to a plan to build a Spadina expressway in Toronto many years ago that was eventually shelved.

“What we saw (in Toronto) was it wasn’t needed,” Downes said. “You can have a city based on the car or a city that has bike lanes and is pedestrian friendly. We need to get the people out of cars and onto Kingston Transit.”

The issue of the third crossing, a bridge over the Cataraqui River, was raised by several audience members.

Slomka said that 50 years from now, “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to see that would be in our future.”

She stipulated that the bridge would have to be funded by provincial and federal money and allow for walking and cycling.

Hector said a third crossing is “something we need in our future” and cited challenges posed when the LaSalle Causeway “is stuck in the up position.”

Paterson said that if the bridge is paid for equally by the city and the provincial and federal governments, the city share is already half funded by fees being paid by developers in Pittsburgh District.

With the further development that will result on the city’s east side, Paterson said, taxpayers “will recoup all remaining costs.”

Foster said a bridge is needed to divert traffic away from the causeway.

Slomka and Paterson were asked about the future of the federally owned Collins Bay Penitentiary land, once the site of the Frontenac Institution prison farm.

“I want to see that land protected and used for rehabilitation — and also for food and food security,” Slomka said.

Paterson said “trade-offs” were possible to promote sustainability but also incorporate the land into the city’s infill development policy.

“That is one area that has been flagged by city staff,” Paterson said. “Would I support all of that going to development? Certainly not.”

The mayoral candidates are scheduled for a debate hosted by Sustainable Kingston tonight at 7 p.m.. It will take place at Unitarian Place, 206 Concession St.